Rearview assembly with illumination

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an illumination and imaging system, which may comprise a housing, a transflective element, a light source, and an optic apparatus. The housing may have a cavity with an opening. The transflective element may be substantially aligned with the opening. The light source may be disposed within the cavity. The optic apparatus may also be disposed within the cavity and have a collimator optic and a spreader optic. The collimator optic may be configured to collimate light emitted from the light source toward the transflective element. The spreader optic may be disposed proximate the transflective element and configured to transmit and spread the collimated light for transmission through the transflective element to substantially illuminate the vehicle interior.

1 . A rearview assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a cavity with an opening;   a transflective element substantially aligned with the opening, the transflective element having a first side directed exterior the cavity and a second side directed interior the cavity;   a light source disposed within the cavity and configured to emit at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light; and   an optic apparatus disposed within the cavity, the optic apparatus having:
 a collimator optic configured to collimate the emitted light toward the transflective element, and 
 a spreader optic disposed proximate the second side and configured to transmit and spread the collimated light; 
   wherein the spread light is transmitted through the transflective element to substantially illuminate a vehicle interior.   
     
     
         2 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foam layer associated with the second side, the foam layer having an aperture;   wherein the spreader optic is substantially disposed within the aperture.   
     
     
         3 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board having a substantial set-back from the transflective element, wherein the light source is physically associated with the circuit board. 
     
     
         4 . The rearview assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising an imager disposed within the cavity, the imager physically associated with the circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transflective element comprises an electrochromic element operable to vary the reflectance of the transflective element. 
     
     
         6 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader optic comprises a diffuser. 
     
     
         7 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader optic comprises one or more prism film. 
     
     
         8 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the light is spread by at least 75 degrees in both directions from center in an X axis, where the X axis corresponds to a horizontal direction in relation to looking directly at the first side under normal operating conditions. 
     
     
         9 . The rearview assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the light is spread by at least 15 degrees up and 80 degrees down from center in a Y axis, where the Y axis corresponds to a vertical direction in relation to looking directly at the first side under normal operating conditions.